“What do you mean by bringing troops?” Luke asked, his face turning cold and stern.

“Alaric wants Zara back, and he won’t stop until he finds her,” replied the soldier, glancing at me briefly with concern.

The world around me felt like it was spinning, shifting from comfort to danger. I didn’t want to go back to Alaric and didn’t want to lose everything I’d just gained here. “I don’t want to go back,” my voice nearly drowned in fear.

Lukas looked at me intently, his desire to protect me clear despite the fear he couldn’t fully hide. “We have to prepare, Zara. I won’t let Alaric find you.”

We had just begun to prepare when a long roar echoed from the forest, shattering the air between the trees, as if signaling that Alaric was getting closer. In an instant, tension peaked, leaving me breathless.

“Zara, no matter what happens, I’ll protect you,” Lukas said with unwavering determination in his voice.

As we tried to hurry, the sound of gunfire echoed from nearby. Lukas and I looked at each other, my eyes reflecting fear that was almost unbearable. “What was that?” I asked, my voice trembling.

Lukas gripped my hand, pulling me to run. “We have to go now, Zara!” he shouted.

But before we could take another step, a large figure emerged from the bushes and attacked Lukas, knocking him hard to the ground. My scream shattered the sudden silence that turned into chaos.

“Lukas!” I tried to approach, but fear paralyzed my body. Lukas was struggling with the soldier attacking him, though his body was clearly exhausted. Screams and the sounds of battle filled the air, enveloping me in guilt and fear that tore at my soul.

Lukas turned to me between blows, his face radiating heartbreaking determination. “Zara, leave me! You have to go! You have to protect the child!”

Tears began to flow down my cheeks. “No! I won’t leave without you!”

Lukas forced himself to rise, though he looked in immense pain. “Zara, listen to me! This isn’t just about you—it’s about our child! You must go… now!”

In those final moments when I was trapped in a difficult choice, the sound of heavy footsteps approached. A large figure emerged from the darkness of the forest, its aura arrogant and radiating danger so palpable.

“Zara,” Alaric’s voice echoed, filling the air with a certainty that pierced my heart. “I know you’re carrying my child. Come back to me, or I’ll take what’s mine, no matter what it takes.”

My entire body trembled, fear overtaking every inch of me. Before me stood two men who wanted me.

But each represented a different threat. With tension hanging in the air, I knew a major decision was imminent—to return to Alaric or choose to stay with Lukas.

~ ALARIC’S POV

I sat alone in my quiet room, accompanied only by the sound of rain tapping softly on the window.

Usually, the peace of the night like this could make me feel more at ease—but tonight, nothing could dispel the anxiety in my mind.

Zara’s face appeared in my mind, disturbing the certainty I once felt when I made the decision to leave her.

But now, the suffocating regret, the pain in my chest, began to take over. All those memories feel too close, as if Zara is still here, by my side.

Outside, the pack elders are pressing me harder. They demand that I have an heir to inherit my position as Alpha.

“The Gabring Pack needs an heir, Alaric. If you don’t make a decision soon, your position as Alpha will be questioned.” One of them said, his voice sounding like a threat.

I tried to calm them down, but they didn't care. "Luna is indeed strong," I muttered, half hoping that this would be enough to calm them down. But I knew, even they realized—there was no bond of destiny between us. And that emptiness felt heavier and heavier.

I was just about to return to my thoughts when a messenger wolf entered, bringing news that froze my entire body. Zara was pregnant. My child—the heir this pack had always desired—was inside her.

“How is Zara?” I asked, my voice sounding almost helpless, as if the question contained a wound too deep to bear.

“She is under Alpha Lukas’s protection.” The wolf replied briefly.

That name, Lukas, ignited a fire in my chest—a mix of anger and jealousy I couldn’t contain. The idea that my child would be born and raised under another Alpha’s protection nearly drove me mad.

That night, I couldn’t wait any longer. I decided I had to meet Zara and my child. As I prepared, Gralind tried to stop me. He pleaded with me to stay, promising that we could be a strong couple without needing to consider Zara.

“I value you, Gralind,” I replied, looking him straight in the eye. “But my heart and my destiny… are already connected to Zara.”

My words left Gralind speechless. He looked at me with clear disappointment but eventually stepped back.

And I knew that this might ruin our alliance. However, the urge to get Zara and our child back overpowered everything else.

***

Heavy rain accompanied my journey to the border, each step making the image of Zara and my child more vivid in my mind. Finally, I was stopped by a group of hired wolves.

A fierce battle ensued, and with every passing second, I could only think of Zara—that gave me the strength to endure. When the wolves retreated, one of them, lying on the ground, chuckled softly.

“Lukas… will never let you near Zara and your child. He will protect them for the rest of his life.”

I clenched my fists tightly, holding back the boiling anger. "I won't let anyone take Zara and my child from me."

This battle isn't just about redemption; it's also a major gamble to bring them back into my life. I won't stop until I can bring them back to the Gabring Pack.

~ ZARA’S POV

The heavy footsteps made my heart race faster. When I saw Alaric emerge from the shadows of the night, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. The past I thought I had buried resurfaced suddenly.

“I can’t believe you’re here, Alaric,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite my entire body trembling. “What do you want?”

He stared at me with that cold, sharp, ambitious gaze I’d always known. “Zara, you know why I’m here. You need to go home, back to Pack Gabring. This is where you belong.”

Lukas stood beside me, pressing his body against mine, as if becoming a protective wall. “Zara doesn’t belong to anyone, Alaric. She’s here by her own choice.”

Lukas’ words warmed my heart. He was always there for me, protecting me and this child without expecting anything in return. But Alaric only snorted, unconcerned with my feelings or my decision.

"She's carrying my child," he hissed, and those words hit me right in the chest. "You don't understand how important this is for my pack."

I glared at him, hurt by the fact that he was only thinking about this child for the sake of his pack. "Is that the only reason you came looking for me, Alaric?"